*I was not financially compensated for this post. I received a sample for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.*

Explore Asian – Same Pasta, Different Ingredients!

I recently got picked from Mom’s Meet members to try out the new “Explore Asian” Bean Pasta. I had never heard of the brand before, and living in a small town in the mountains of AZ, had a hard time even finding it at the store. I finally found it at Sunshine Herbs in Show Low, AZ. The lady there was so helpful and really made me consider purchasing more items at their store. I picked out the Black Bean Pasta and the Organic Edamame & Mung Bean Fettuccine.

I used the products to make some meals for the family, including this one that I found on their website:

¾ pound Edamame and mung-bean fettuccine, cooked according to directions.

Instructions

In a large pot, steam the cauliflower for about 8 minutes, until soft when pierced with a fork.

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat and add the garlic. Cook for 1-2 minutes, until just fragrant.

Combine the steamed cauliflower, cooked garlic, vegetable broth, milk, and parmesan cheese in a blender or food processor and purée until smooth and creamy. Set aside.

In the same pan you cooked the garlic in, add the shrimp and sauté for 2 minutes over medium high heat. Add the mushrooms and spinach and continue cooking until the spinach melts, and the shrimp is cooked completely through.

Add the sauce to the pan with the shrimp and veggies and cook until heated through, stirring to combine. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Toss the sauce with the cooked fettuccine and serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese on the side.

The sauce itself was amazing, tasted great, pretty healthy and a switch-up of the normal Alfredo style sauce, which isn’t that great for you. The noodles however, were not something that we really enjoyed. I’m not sure if I cooked them too long, didn’t cook them enough, etc., but they were very rubbery in consistency and something that my family really didn’t like. I’m going to try the Black Bean Spaghetti soon, and see if that one has a better taste to it. Not sure if it was a deal with the beans that the pasta in the recipe above were made with, or what. The flavor itself, wasn’t all too bad, it was just hard to get past the feel of it. Sorry, picky family. :-/

Here’s some more info on the products that I was able to purchase:

Black Bean Pasta: Our delicious gluten-free spaghetti is made from 92% Black Beans and 8% water to create the perfect blend for al dente Black Bean Spaghetti every time. Try it with your favorite curry sauce or pesto tonight. 25 grams of protein, 12 grams of fiber in every serving!

Organic Edamame & Mung Bean Fettuccine: This blend of organic edamame and mung beans has created an unbelievable fettuccine for your family to enjoy. This delicious fettuccini has 24 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber per serving. It cooks up to a perfect al dente texture and, unlike most gluten-free pasta, doesn’t ever overcook.

About Explore Asian:

While exploring the Far East, our Founder, Joe, came across strange and fascinating soybean noodles. Right then and there the wheels started turning on how these amazing noodles could be made into something more for his friends and family in the West.

Explore Asian products are vegan, organic, gluten-free, kosher and most importantly taste great! We have explored the world to find the best raw materials to create healthy and delicious options for your dietary needs.

Our bean pastas have 20-25 grams of protein per serving and are low in carbs and sodium while high in fiber and always coming out al dente. The taste of pasta with all the benefits of beans!

Our team in constantly exploring the globe to bring new innovative products to your families to enjoy. Be sure to like us on Facebook to be the first know about new products and offers.

About Moms Meet:

All great moms know what’s important: the health of our children, our families, and our world. Moms Meet and KIWI Magazine, our premier publication that helps parents everywhere grow their families the natural and organic way, wants to help build and foster communities of moms who can share resources.

Moms Meet is a part of our mission to unite eco-minded parents. This online community empowers moms to connect, learn, and share their thoughts on raising healthy families and living green. At Moms Meet, we provide early access to articles from KIWI Magazine and entry to a fun Rewards Program that allows members to collect and redeem coins for great prizes, like a box full of eco-goodies, a subscription to KIWI Magazine, or even a chance to win an all-inclusive vacation!

We also offer exciting opportunities for moms and their friends to try and review natural, organic and eco-products and services, and share their honest feedback through the Mom Ambassador program. Mom Ambassadors have sampled products from brands like Kashi, Stonyfield Organic, Bob’s Red Mill, Zevia Zero Calorie Soda, and many more!

Connect With Them:

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Disclaimer: I, Jamie Tomkins, own and operate TigerStrypes Blog located at www.tigerstrypes.com. From time to time you’ll hear about my real life experiences with products and/or services from companies and individuals. Let it be known that I have no affiliation with these said companies, and have not received compensation for reviewing their service/product. The service/product was purchased by me with monetary means, points, or coupons. No portion of the product/service was given to me by the company or any agents of the company. The review that I give regarding the product/service is based off my own personal experience; I do not guarantee that your experience will be the same.

I have tried a veggie fettuccine pasta (different brand) and I can agree it didn’t taste all that good. But your pasta dish still looks very tasty. I look forward to your post on the black bean pasta. I’ll have to see if I can find this brand near me.

It might just be me, Heidi – I just want to let people know about it. Everyone has different tastes, so I want to make sure that I tell the truth. Tired of all of the reviews being positive, when they really aren’t. :/